This episode features Ed Monroe, a Fire Captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who has a rich background and diverse experiences. Born in Texas and raised on Air Force bases around the world, Ed calls Huntington Beach, California his hometown. A graduate in Applied Mathematics from Cal State University Northridge, he balances his demanding career with his role as a husband and father to three children. With 15 years of service in the fire department, Ed's tenure includes significant involvement in a notable critical incident, which he now discusses publicly to bring awareness to mental health issues like PTSD and cumulative traumatic stress within the firefighting community.

In addition to his firefighting duties, Ed is actively engaged in advocating for mental health, speaking at various conferences and appearing on podcasts to share his experiences and insights. His expertise extends to incident command, wildland and structure firefighting, HAZMAT, and EMS. Ed's unique contribution also includes the mathematical analysis of firefighting resource effectiveness. His commitment to his peers is further exemplified through his involvement in peer support and the Honor Guard, highlighting his dedication to both his profession and the well-being of his colleagues.